This article was updated on August 30 to include an official statement from the restaurant which can be found at the end of the article.
There are many out there who cannot finish the drinks they order while they’re dining out. For that reason, some tend to order their drinks in takeaway cups so that they can take it away with them when they leave the restaurants.
However, one Malaysian woman didn’t realise that her choice to order her drink in a takeaway cup while dining at a Thai restaurant in Jaya One, Petaling Jaya, would be a huge issue for the staff there.
Netizen, Queenie Chan, took to her Facebook page to recount how the staff at the Thai restaurant had allegedly been rude to her because she had asked for her drink to be served in a takeaway cup while she was dining at their Jaya One outlet.
She wrote, “I was dining in with some friends for lunch at (Thai restaurant) at Jaya One and ordered my food and drink. The order was done through the QR code, which didn’t allow me to write any remarks so I requested one of the waitresses to have my drink (a green Thai milk tea) packed in their takeaway cup for my convenience as most times, I’m not able to finish my drink and prefer to consume it at my own pace to enjoy.”
“The waitress responded with a no, which piqued my curiosity. I asked why and she still gave me a ‘no’ without any explanation. I asked her again why not? She was speechless and walked away, and never got back to me on the reason. When our food and drinks were served, my drink was served in a glass cup.”
She asked a different waitress for a takeaway cup
Queenie then decided to flag down a different waitress and asked if she could have her drink transferred to a takeaway cup. She claims the second waitress also hesitated before taking her drink away.
Soon after, a woman dressed in a different uniform approached her, which Queenie believes is the restaurant’s manager.
“She came to me with my drink in a takeaway cup but it was tied in a plastic bag, she said they are not allowed to serve any plastic cups or takeaway packaging for dine-in guests and that she would help me keep my drink at the counter to be collected when I leave the restaurant,” Queenie explained.
This image is for illustration purposes only.
Starting to get frustrated, Queenie once again asked why and the reason she claimed was given to her will leave you stunned!
“I asked what is the reason, and she responded with the reason that there’s a government rule and regulation that states that plastic cups are not allowed to be placed on the table for dine-ins,”
“I was shocked upon hearing that and questioned her if there is really such a rule, by the government? Are you serious?”
The supposed manager questioned her nationality
Queenie took the opportunity to point out that there were many eateries, including bubble tea stores, that serve their drinks in plastic cups.
However, sticking to the ‘government rule’ reason, the alleged manager even apparently asked Queenie if she was Malaysian as she didn’t know the rule.
“I asked almost 3 to 5 times if she is VERY SURE that there’s such a rule, she said yes and even asked me ‘Aren’t you a Malaysian?’ and said yes, there is such a rule and if I was a Malaysian, I should know better!”
Queenie also claimed that the alleged manager she spoke to appeared to be a foreigner from a nearby country.
“That triggered me so much, as she herself is a foreigner, likely a Filipino or Indonesian, and having the audacity to question my nationality in my own country?” she said.
What happened to the government rule?
Feeling like they were pulling her leg, she decided to ask why she wasn’t allowed to have her drink in a takeaway cup one last time, and the staff changed their answer.
This image is for illustration purposes only.
“She gave me another reason, that they have experienced many customers complaining that they’re not environmentally friendly as all these years, they have been serving their drinks in plastic cups. So, they have stopped doing it and do not allow customers to do so,”
“I told her that if she explained with this reason much earlier and with a better tone of voice, I would acknowledge that and appreciate the restaurant on wanting to be environmentally friendly BUT you can’t make false claims that it is a GOVERNMENT RULE. This is extremely misleading and also offensive, especially when you’re asking if I am a Malaysian,” she said.
Queenie went on to share that the whole time, it felt like the staff were just trying to shut her up.
The alleged manager even apparently said that Queenie should have listened to her and asked for her leftover drink to be transferred to a plastic cup at the end of her meal.
“Seriously? I find it so unbearable and ridiculous! I told her that I’m already saving her the hassle of doing that by asking for it to be immediately served in the plastic cup,”
“In the end, she gave up with the debate as it was really causing a scene and ruining our lunch. She sarcastically told me that it’s fine, she will allow me to have my drink in the plastic cup and told me to enjoy my meal. I said that my appetite is already ruined and this is a very bad experience, and she should never spread false information or any claims about a government rule like that to any customer, she could’ve answered in a better way,” Queenie added.
WORLD OF BUZZ has since reached out to the Thai restaurant, Streat Thai, for comment, and they’ve informed us that they’re investigating the matter and will be providing enhanced training for their staff.
UPDATE: You can read the restaurant’s full statement below
“We are aware of a recent incident at our Jaya One outlet that has raised concerns, and we would like to address this matter with the seriousness it deserves. First and foremost, we extend our sincere apologies to the customer for any inconvenience and frustration they experienced during their visit.
At Streat Thai, we strive to maintain high standards in our service. While we have recently transitioned from serving drinks in plastic cups to glassware, it remains our policy to accommodate requests for plastic cups. We are currently investigating the details of this incident to understand what transpired and to ensure that our standards are consistently upheld.
We take this matter very seriously and are committed to conducting a thorough and objective investigation. Our goal is to fully understand the situation and take appropriate actions based on our findings. We want to reassure all our guests that providing a welcoming and respectful environment is our top priority.
In light of this incident, we will also be reinforcing our commitment to clear and respectful communication through enhanced staff training. We view this as an opportunity to learn and improve, ensuring that such situations are handled better in the future.
Thank you for your understanding and continued support.”
What do you think of Queenie’s experience? Do feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section.
Also read: Visitors at this Sabah Beach Must Pay Up to RM20 Just to Sit at Tables, Food & Drink Not Included
